Realistically you need a few NPCs per type of person at a starport. If the PCs don't go poking around the starport they might only have to deal with the ones that specifically need to interact with their ship (air control, customs agents, cargo handlers) but you may need to keep few other NPCs ready just in case they do actually want to spend time at the port and look around.
Air traffic controllers: People that the PCs are likely to interact over Comms mainly. Are they laid back and bored due to working at a starport that sees little traffic? Or do they demand everything done by the book and slow down any interaction with rules and regulations? How do they feel about bribes?
Cargo handlers: Are they doing their work well or are they likely to damage the expensive cargo or slow down the loading/unloading process due to laziness or lack of proper equipment? Are they a source of valuable rumours or working for pirates and selling tips on which ships are good targets?
Other ships and crews: Traders? Rich people on their way to safari? Familiar faces from the past? Navy patrol ship just happened to land and the crew is enjoying a brief R&R while causing havoc?
The local bar: Hows the service? Who is that cloaked figure at the corner of the room smoking a pipe? Why is that Vargr wearing pants on his head? Is someone selling death sticks or illegal weaponry that's too hot for local market? Are there any locals in the spaceport bar or just Travellers and ship crews?
EDIT: I wouldn't flesh out the characters much, just a sentence or few of description and ideas. Then if the players get interested make up more details as is necessary.
Realistically you need a few NPCs per type of person at a starport. If the PCs don't go poking around the starport they might only have to deal with the ones that specifically need to interact with their ship (air control, customs agents, cargo handlers) but you may need to keep few other NPCs ready just in case they do actually want to spend time at the port and look around. Air traffic controllers: People that the PCs are likely to interact over Comms mainly. Are they laid back and bored due to working at a starport that sees little traffic? Or do they demand everything done by the book and slow down any interaction with rules and regulations? How do they feel about bribes? Cargo handlers: Are they doing their work well or are they likely to damage the expensive cargo or slow down the loading/unloading process due to laziness or lack of proper equipment? Are they a source of valuable rumours or working for pirates and selling tips on which ships are good targets? Other ships and crews: Traders? Rich people on their way to safari? Familiar faces from the past? Navy patrol ship just happened to land and the crew is enjoying a brief R&R while causing havoc? The local bar: Hows the service? Who is that cloaked figure at the corner of the room smoking a pipe? Why is that Vargr wearing pants on his head? Is someone selling death sticks or illegal weaponry that's too hot for local market? Are there any locals in the spaceport bar or just Travellers and ship crews? EDIT: I wouldn't flesh out the characters much, just a sentence or few of description and ideas. Then if the players get interested make up more details as is necessary.
-- https://www.reddit.com/r/traveller/comments/asyv1s/how_many_npcs_are_wandering_around_the_starport/eh8dght/?context=3